Posted on Facebook by Kristy Durso, December 8, 2024
People being people…. The way it should be.
Today, on a flight from Miami to Jamaica, there was a little boy with a neurodivergence traveling with his mom.
I don’t know his diagnosis, and it doesn’t matter. I knew he was “one of us” five minutes into the flight.
I kept wishing I could say something to Mom. She had an amazing grab bag of tools to help. She did everything right.
He still lost it for about half the flight.
I am sure she feared what every mother of a kid with a neurodivergence feared. Glares, snide remarks, complaining… etc.
Instead, what I witnessed brought me such hope for the future.
As the flight went on, and I worried that the people around us would grow impatient, I saw four different people stop to ask Mom if there was any way they could help. The gentleman sitting next to them never said a word, looked annoyed, or even seemed bothered.
We witnessed compassion, kindness, patience, and acceptance.
Friends, THIS was inclusion.
When in doubt, give grace.
Say an encouraging word.
Ask how you can support, and respect the answer.
Give space for the family to do what they need to do.
Empower others to fully embrace life.
Photo explanation/description:
Ryan kept blocking my face with his mimosa, so I blocked his with mine. (What choice did I have?) So, here we are, on the flight to Jamaica, showing true love after 25 years. No faces. Just two heads with clear plastic cups holding our mimosas, arms crossed, each making sure our hand blocks the other’s face. 
